Stress-free Valentine's gifts

Kat Hobza resides in sunny Western Montana. She is the Senior Authoress Specializing in Sarcasm at www.funnyfreelance.com. Okay, she’s the only authoress at funny freelance. When she’s not formulating tongue-in-cheek ideas and content as...

Make gift-giving easy

As Valentine’s Day nears, you may find yourself in the throes of a Grade A panic attack trying to think of the perfect gift for the love o' your life. There’s a surprising amount of pressure surrounding this seemingly benign holiday. Will your gift match the level of sentiment expressed by his gift? Worse yet, what if you get him a thoughtful, meaningful love token and he gets you clothes? What if he forgets all together? It’s going to be okay. Sit down, breathe and read these ideas to relieve your anxiety.

Take turns

We're coming right out of the gates with this one for those of you in a long term relationship because it relieves pressure for two reasons: If it's your year to organize Valentine's Day, you don't have to worry if your gift will match the depth of devotion of his gift. Done. Wow. That was easy. If it's your turn, you can go a little crazy, knowing you'll have next year off.

Make something

Most of us have a hidden talent. Can you make a quilt that would make the ladies at the local church look like amateur wanna-bes? Can you throw a pot worthy of a high-end art gallery? Do your knitting abilities make you the envy of grandmas everywhere? Go to town. Whip up something for your honey that says, "Hey, I know you may never use this, but I was thinking of you as I labored over this." Even if he doesn't use it, every time he looks at it he'll think of you and smile. Or he'll have the perfect gift for next year's White Elephant Christmas party.

Picture of you

You can work this gift from all kinds of heart-felt angles. You can slap a flattering picture of yourself in a frame. You can have pictures taken of you in your birthday suit. Scrapbook pictures of the two of you together. Go online and make a book of the things you've done together. Awww. Ain't that sweet?

Sexy underwear and/or high heels

Valentine's Day can provide the perfect opportunity for both of you to benefit from the gift. Most of us feel kind of guilty ponying up for expensive lingerie, fabulous though it may be. Same holds true for those completely impractical pair of heels you've been drooling over for the last six months. Admit it. We all get a kick out of picturing ourselves as one of the girls in Maxim magazine, right? If you're not quite where you want to be weight-wise (why does Valentine's Day have to fall right after the holiday season and New Year's?), fear not. That's what candlelight is for. Guys are usually just grateful you went to the effort.

Catered dinner

Again, this idea is limited only to your imagination. If you happen to be a tremendous cook, cater a Valentine's Day dinner yourself. Flexing your culinary muscles is a guaranteed way to have your guy fall in love with you all over again. This is where most men live: food and sex. And usually in that order. If you can't make mac-n-cheese without burning the house down, hire it out.

Hotel room

This is a great idea for tight schedules. Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday this year, and there is a good chance one or both of you can't sneak out of town. Just reserve a nice room in the city where you live. You can leave it at providing a change of scenery, or you can combine all the aforementioned gifts in your hotel room for a Valentine's Day both of you won't soon forget.

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be another source of stress. You have enough legitimate things to be stressed out about. Take that anxiety you may feel about Valentine's Day and turn it into the energy you need to create a positive and memorable experience.

Watch: ?How to have a happy Valentine's Day on a budget?

You can still warm someone's heart on Valentine's Day without spending a lot of money.